Discuss Lessons in French by Hilary Reyl:Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

Created: 10/23/14

Replies: 10

Posted Oct. 23, 2014
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LeahLovesBooks

Join Date: 04/08/14

Posts: 47

Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

Lydia makes it clear at the novel's end that she knows what Olivier is all about. Interestingly, she does not seem overly concerned about cutting him out of her daughter's life.

Posted Oct. 27, 2014
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rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 370

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RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

No, I did not see it coming, and I did not particularly find it an appealing aspect of the story either.

Posted Oct. 28, 2014
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Suzanne

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 261

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RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

Not too surprised since they stayed connected by phone. I believe the author may have included any other relationship to show the whole dysfunctional behavior pattern by both characters.

Posted Oct. 28, 2014
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terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 169

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RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

I wasn't that surprised about his relationship with Lydia, but I was surprised of his disloyalty to Kate.

Posted Oct. 28, 2014
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LindaB.

Join Date: 06/11/14

Posts: 67

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RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

I had my suspicions early on in the book but wanted to believe in his loyalty towards Kate.

Posted Oct. 29, 2014
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malindan

Join Date: 05/10/12

Posts: 48

RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

Yes I did see it coming. I found Olivier to be deceitful about everything. There were a lot of hints about the close relationship they shared.

Posted Nov. 01, 2014
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mariannes

Join Date: 12/17/12

Posts: 206

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RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

No, I didn't see it coming at all, although looking back, there were some hints with Olivier's feelings for his mother and his quickness to betray Portia.

Posted Nov. 03, 2014
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LeahLovesBooks

Join Date: 04/08/14

Posts: 47

RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

I read this boo some weeks ago and upon reflection, have come to believe that birds of a feather, flock together. Most of the characters are emotionally unhealthy people and have somehow found one another. Olivier has a screw or two loose. Lydia sunk her claws into him. She's one controlling lady.

Posted Nov. 05, 2014
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Krystal

Join Date: 08/14/14

Posts: 6

RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

I thought he would be loyal to Kate so it was a little surprising.

Posted Nov. 13, 2014
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shirleyf

Join Date: 04/25/11

Posts: 37

RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

I think the relationship with Lydia was evident all along. Maybe Kate wished so hard that Olivier was really interested in her that she couldn't see that he maintained his connection to the family in spite of breaking up (somewhat) with Portia. I didn't like him at all and in the end, he proved how deceitful, dishonest and self centered he really was.

Posted Dec. 04, 2014
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asha

Join Date: 05/01/13

Posts: 44

RE: Olivier -- Did you see his relationship with Lydia coming?

absolutely. There was this oedipal quality to Olivier's dependence on his girl-friend's mom.

She epitomized all the things that Olivier did not have and yet wished for, I think.